System and Method for Retrieving a Previously Transmitted Portion of Television Program Content

ABSTRACT

A system comprises a storage and a processor. The storage is for storing a plurality of Internet protocol multicast video streams, each associated with a live television program content. The processor is in communication with the storage, and the processor is configured to receive the Internet protocol multicast video streams. The processor is also configured to receive a request for a previously transmitted portion of one of the Internet protocol multicast video streams from customer premises equipment in response to the customer premises customer requiring the previously transmitted portion for display. The processor is also configured to begin transmission of the previously transmitted portion as an Internet protocol unicast video stream to the customer premises equipment for immediate display.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/195,308 filed Aug. 20, 2008, now U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2010/0046927.All sections of the aforementioned application(s) are incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to communications networks, andmore particularly relates to a system and method for retrieving apreviously transmitted portion of television program content.

BACKGROUND

Select digital video recorders (DVRs) can record a video stream as it isreceived at the DVR. A user of the DVR can then pause, rewind, and fastforward the recorded portions. Some set-top box devices that have aninternal DVR that can also record a television program as it is outputto a display device. The television program can be stored while the useris currently watching the television program. However, when a tuner inthe set-top box device is changed to a different channel, the recordedcontent from the first television program is erased and contentassociated with a new television program is recorded. Thus, the user canrewind the television program to view a portion that he might havemissed as long as the tuner of set-top box device receiving thetelevision program has not been recently changed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration,elements illustrated in the Figures have not necessarily been drawn toscale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements areexaggerated relative to other elements. Embodiments incorporatingteachings of the present disclosure are shown and described with respectto the drawings presented herein, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an Internet Protocol Television(IPTV) system;

FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 are block diagrams illustrating an embodiment of anIPTV network;

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of a method for providing a unicast videostream associated with a previously transmitted portion of a multicastvideo stream;

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of a method for receiving the unicast videostream while recording a current portion of the multicast video stream;and

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a general computer system.

The use of the same reference symbols in different drawings indicatessimilar or identical items.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The numerous innovative teachings of the present application will bedescribed with particular reference to the presently preferred exemplaryembodiments. However, it should be understood that this class ofembodiments provides only a few examples of the many advantageous usesof the innovative teachings herein. In general, statements made in thespecification of the present application do not necessarily limit any ofthe various claimed inventions. Moreover, some statements may apply tosome inventive features but not to others.

FIG. 1 shows an IPTV system 100 including a client facing tier 102, anapplication tier 104, an acquisition tier 106, and an operations andmanagement tier 108. Each tier 102, 104, 106, and 108 is coupled to oneor both of a private network 110 and a public network 112. For example,the client-facing tier 102 can be coupled to the private network 110,while the application tier 104 can be coupled to the private network 110and to the public network 112 such as the Internet. The acquisition tier106 can also be coupled to the private network 110 and to the publicnetwork 112. Moreover, the operations and management tier 108 can becoupled to the public network 112.

The various tiers 102, 104, 106 and 108 communicate with each other viathe private network 110 and the public network 112. For instance, theclient-facing tier 102 can communicate with the application tier 104 andthe acquisition tier 106 via the private network 110. The applicationtier 104 can also communicate with the acquisition tier 106 via theprivate network 110. Further, the application tier 104 can communicatewith the acquisition tier 106 and the operations and management tier 108via the public network 112. Moreover, the acquisition tier 106 cancommunicate with the operations and management tier 108 via the publicnetwork 112. In a particular embodiment, elements of the applicationtier 104 can communicate directly with the client-facing tier 102.

The client-facing tier 102 can communicate with user equipment via aprivate access network 166, such as an Internet Protocol Television(IPTV) network. In an illustrative embodiment, modems such as a firstmodem 114 and a second modem 122 can be coupled to the private accessnetwork 166. The client-facing tier 102 can communicate with a firstrepresentative set-top box device 116 via the first modem 114 and with asecond representative set-top box device 124 via the second modem 122.The client-facing tier 102 can communicate with a large number ofset-top boxes over a wide geographic area, such as a regional area, ametropolitan area, a viewing area, or any other suitable geographic areathat can be supported by networking the client-facing tier 102 tonumerous set-top box devices. In one embodiment, the client-facing tier102 can be coupled to the modems 114 and 122 via fiber optic cables.Alternatively, the modems 114 and 122 can be digital subscriber line(DSL) modems that are coupled to one or more network nodes via twistedpairs, and the client-facing tier 102 can be coupled to the networknodes via fiber-optic cables. Each set-top box device 116 and 124 canprocess data received from the private access network 166 via an IPTVsoftware platform such as Microsoft™ TV IPTV Edition.

The first set-top box device 116 can be coupled to a first displaydevice 118, such as a first television monitor, and the second set-topbox device 124 can be coupled to a second display device 126, such as asecond television monitor. Moreover, the first set-top box device 116can communicate with a first remote control 120, and the second set-topbox device can communicate with a second remote control 128. In anexemplary, non-limiting embodiment, each set-top box device 116 and 124can receive data or video from the client-facing tier 102 via theprivate access network 166 and render or display the data or video atthe display device 118 or 126 to which it is coupled. The set-top boxdevices 116 and 124 thus may include tuners that receive and decodetelevision programming information for transmission to the displaydevices 118 and 126. Further, the set-top box devices 116 and 124 caninclude a set-top box processor 170 and a set-top box memory device 172that is accessible to the set-top box processor. In a particularembodiment, the set-top box devices 116 and 124 can also communicatecommands received from the remote controls 120 and 128 back to theclient-facing tier 102 via the private access network 166.

In an illustrative embodiment, the client-facing tier 102 can include aclient-facing tier (CFT) switch 130 that manages communication betweenthe client-facing tier 102 and the private access network 166 andbetween the client-facing tier 102 and the private network 110. Asshown, the CFT switch 130 is coupled to one or more data servers 132that store data transmitted in response to user requests, such asvideo-on-demand material. The CFT switch 130 can also be coupled to aterminal server 134 that provides terminal devices, such as a gameapplication server and other devices with a common connection point tothe private network 110. In a particular embodiment, the CFT switch 130can also be coupled to a video-on-demand (VOD) server 136.

The application tier 104 can communicate with both the private network110 and the public network 112. In this embodiment, the application tier104 can include a first application tier (APP) switch 138 and a secondAPP switch 140. In a particular embodiment, the first APP switch 138 canbe coupled to the second APP switch 140. The first APP switch 138 can becoupled to an application server 142 and to an OSS/BSS gateway 144. Theapplication server 142 provides applications to the set-top box devices116 and 124 via the private access network 166, so the set-top boxdevices 116 and 124 can provide functions such as display, messaging,processing of IPTV data and VOD material. In a particular embodiment,the OSS/BSS gateway 144 includes operation systems and support (OSS)data, as well as billing systems and support (BSS) data.

The second APP switch 140 can be coupled to a domain controller 146 thatprovides web access, for example, to users via the public network 112.The second APP switch 140 can be coupled to a subscriber and systemstore 148 that includes account information, such as account informationthat is associated with users who access the system 100 via the privatenetwork 110 or the public network 112. In a particular embodiment, theapplication tier 104 can also include a client gateway 150 thatcommunicates data directly to the client-facing tier 102. In thisembodiment, the client gateway 150 can be coupled directly to the CFTswitch 130. The client gateway 150 can provide user access to theprivate network 110 and the tiers coupled thereto.

In a particular embodiment, the set-top box devices 116 and 124 canaccess the system via the private access network 166 using informationreceived from the client gateway 150. The private access network 166provides security for the private network 110. User devices can accessthe client gateway 150 via the private access network 166, and theclient gateway 150 can allow such devices to access the private network110 once the devices are authenticated or verified. Similarly, theclient gateway 150 can prevent unauthorized devices, such as hackercomputers or stolen set-top box devices, from accessing the privatenetwork 110 by denying access to these devices beyond the private accessnetwork 166.

For example, when the set-top box device 116 accesses the system 100 viathe private access network 166, the client gateway 150 can verifysubscriber information by communicating with the subscriber and systemstore 148 via the private network 110, the first APP switch 138 and thesecond APP switch 140. Further, the client gateway 150 can verifybilling information and status by communicating with the OSS/BSS gateway144 via the private network 110 and the first APP switch 138. TheOSS/BSS gateway 144 can transmit a query across the first APP switch138, to the second APP switch 140, and the second APP switch 140 cancommunicate the query across the public network 112 to the OSS/BSSserver 164. After the client gateway 150 confirms subscriber and/orbilling information, the client gateway 150 can allow the set-top boxdevice 116 access to IPTV content and VOD content. If the client gateway150 cannot verify subscriber information for the set-top box device 116,such as because it is connected to a different twisted pair, the clientgateway 150 can deny transmissions to and from the set-top box device116 beyond the private access network 166.

The acquisition tier 106 includes an acquisition tier (AQT) switch 152that communicates with the private network 110. The AQT switch 152 canalso communicate with the operations and management tier 108 via thepublic network 112. In a particular embodiment, the AQT switch 152 canbe coupled to a live acquisition server 154 that receives televisioncontent, for example, from a broadcast service 156. Further, the AQTswitch can be coupled to a video-on-demand importer server 158 thatstores television content received at the acquisition tier 106 andcommunicate the stored content to the client-facing tier 102 via theprivate network 110.

The operations and management tier 108 can include an operations andmanagement tier (OMT) switch 160 that conducts communication between theoperations and management tier 108 and the public network 112. In theillustrated embodiment, the OMT switch 160 is coupled to a TV2 server162. Additionally, the OMT switch 160 can be coupled to an OSS/BSSserver 164 and to a simple network management protocol (SNMP) monitor167 that monitors network devices. In a particular embodiment, the OMTswitch 160 can communicate with the AQT switch 152 via the publicnetwork 112.

In a particular embodiment during operation of the IPTV system, the liveacquisition server 154 can acquire television content from the broadcastservice 156. The live acquisition server 154 in turn can transmit thetelevision content to the AQT switch 152 and the AQT switch can transmitthe television content to the CFT switch 130 via the private network110. Further, the television content can be encoded at the data servers132, and the CFT switch 130 can communicate the television content tothe modems 114 and 122 via the private access network 166. The set-topbox devices 116 and 124 can receive the television content from themodems 114 and 122, decode the television content, and transmit thecontent to the display devices 118 and 126 according to commands fromthe remote control devices 120 and 128.

Additionally, at the acquisition tier 106, the VOD importer server 158can receive content from one or more VOD sources outside the IPTV system100, such as movie studios and programmers of non-live content. The VODimporter server 158 can transmit the VOD content to the AQT switch 152,and the AQT switch 152 in turn can communicate the material to the CFTswitch 130 via the private network 110. The VOD content can be stored atone or more servers, such as the VOD server 136.

When a user issues a request for VOD content to the set-top box device116 or 124, the request can be transmitted over the private accessnetwork 166 to the VOD server 136 via the CFT switch 130. Upon receivingsuch a request, the VOD server 136 can retrieve requested VOD contentand transmit the content to the set-top box device 116 or 124 across theprivate access network 166 via the CFT switch 130. In an illustrativeembodiment, the live acquisition server 154 can transmit the televisioncontent to the AQT switch 152, and the AQT switch 152 in turn cantransmit the television content to the OMT switch 160 via the publicnetwork 112. In this embodiment, the OMT switch 160 can transmit thetelevision content to the TV2 server 162 for display to users accessingthe user interface at the TV2 server. For example, a user can access theTV2 server 162 using a personal computer (PC) 168 coupled to the publicnetwork 112.

The domain controller 146 communicates with the public network 112 viathe second APP switch 140. Additionally, the domain controller 146 cancommunicate via the public network 112 with the PC 168. For example, thedomain controller 146 can display a web portal via the public network112 and allow users to access the web portal using the PC 168. Further,in an illustrative embodiment, the domain controller 146 can communicatewith at least one wireless network access point 178 over a data network176. In this embodiment, each wireless network access device 178 cancommunicate with user wireless devices such as a cellular telephone 184.

In a particular embodiment, the set-top box devices can include aset-top box computer program 174 that is embedded within the set-top boxmemory device 172. The set-top box computer program 174 can containinstructions to receive and execute at least one user television viewingpreference that a user has entered by accessing an Internet user accountvia the domain controller 146. For example, the user can use the PC 168to access a web portal maintained by the domain controller 146 via theInternet. The domain controller 146 can query the subscriber and systemstore 148 via the private network 110 for account information associatedwith the user. In a particular embodiment, the account information canassociate the user's Internet account with the second set-top box device124. For instance, in an illustrative embodiment, the accountinformation can relate the user's account to the second set-top boxdevice 124 by associating the user account with an IP address of thesecond set-top box device, with data relating to one or more twistedpairs connected with the second set-top box device, with data related toone or more fiber optic cables connected with the second set-top boxdevice, with an alphanumeric identifier of the second set-top boxdevice, with any other data that is suitable for associating the secondset-top box device with a user account, or with any combination ofthese.

The set-top box computer program 174 can contain instructions to receivemany types of user preferences from the domain controller 146 via theaccess network 166. For example, the set-top box computer program 174can include instructions to receive a request to record at least onetelevision program at a video content storage module such as a digitalvideo recorder (DVR) 182 within the second set-top box device 124. Inthis example embodiment, the set-top box computer program 174 caninclude instructions to transmit the request to the DVR 182, where thetelevision program(s) are recorded. In an illustrative embodiment, theset-top box computer program 174 can include instructions to receivefrom the DVR 182 a recording status with respect to one or more of thetelevision programs and to transmit at least one message regarding thestatus to a wireless device, such as the cellular telephone 184. Themessage can be received at the CFT switch 130, for instance, andcommunicated to the domain controller 146 across the private network 110via the second APP switch 140. Further, the domain controller 146 cantransmit the message to the wireless data network 176, directly or viathe public network 112, and on to the wireless network access point 178.The message can then be transmitted to the cellular telephone 184. In anillustrative embodiment, the status can be sent via a wireless accessprotocol (WAP).

FIG. 2 shows one example embodiment of a television distribution systemor network 200, using IPTV technology in this example but not limitedthereto, adapted to provide, among other things, the live televisioncontent features of the disclosed subject matter. The network 200 mayinclude a super hub office (SHO) 210 for acquisition and encoding ofvideo content, one or more video hub offices (VHO) 220 in eachdemographic market area (DMA), one or more intermediate offices (IO)230, one or more central offices (CO) 240 located in each metropolitanarea, and subscribers 250, who may be located in single or multipledwelling units. In one example embodiment, the network 200 may beconnected through a plurality of high speed communication links 260using physical transport layers such as fiber, cable, twisted pair, air,or other media.

In one example embodiment of the IPTV video delivery system, the SHO 210distributes content to one or more VHOs 220 which may be spread across awide geographic territory, such as an entire country. The SHO 210 may,for example, be in a central location for acquisition and aggregation ofnational-level broadcast television (or linear) programming. A redundantSHO 210 may be provided for backup in case of failure. The SHO 210 mayalso provide the central point of live television content acquisitionand insertion into the IPTV network. Linear programming may be receivedat the SHO 210 via satellite and processed for delivery to the VHO 220.Live television content may be received from various sources andprocessed/encoded to codec and bit-rate requirements for thecommunication network for transmission to the VHO 220 over the highspeed communication links. The VHOs 220 are the video distributionpoints within each DMA or geographic region.

FIG. 3 shows an example network architecture 300 between the CO 240 andcustomer premises equipment (CPE) 320 of the subscriber 250 shown inFIG. 2. A serving area interface (SAI) 310 may be connected to the CO240. SAI 310 may, for example, be located in a weather-proof enclosureproximate the subscriber 250 premises, and may include fiber-to-the-node(FTTN) equipment. FTTN equipment may also be located in the CO 240. Thecustomer premises equipment (CPE) 320 includes, for example, a networkinterface device (not shown) and a residential gateway (RG) 330, with abuilt-in very-high-bit-rate digital subscriber loop (VDSL) modem oroptical network termination (ONT). In either case the RG 330 may beconnected to the rest of the home set-top box devices 116 and 124 via aninternal network such as an Ethernet. The set-top box devices 116 and124 each have an associated remote control device 120 and 128 whichprovides data entry to the set-top box devices to control the IPTVselections from the IPTV data streams.

FIG. 4 shows one example embodiment of an SHO acquisition server 402, inthe SHO 210, that may be used to acquire national content to bedistributed towards the VHO 220. In an alternative embodiment, livetelevision content may be acquired using an acquisition server in theVHO 220. In this configuration, the VHO 220 may include a VHO livetelevision acquisition server 404, which forwards the live televisionand/or other content toward the subscribers 250 through the IO 230, theCO 240, and the SAI 310. The COs 240 can include a CO live content massstorage system 406, and the SAI 310 can include a SAI live content massstorage system 408. The IO 230 is connected to the CO 240, which isconnected to the SAI 310 to further distribute traffic towards thesubscribers 250. Traffic may reach the subscribers 250 at leastpartially via either FTTN or fiber to the premises (FTTP), or by othertypes of transmission medium.

The VHO live television acquisition server 404 may distribute aplurality of live television programs, each typically associated with atelevision “channel,” using a multicast IP data stream 410 through theIO 230, CO 240, and SAI 310 to the subscribers 250. A live televisionprogram can include any television program that is scheduled to beprovided to the subscribers 250 during a specific time period, such as asports game, a television series, and the like. Additional routers,switches, and other network elements that would normally be present inthe VHO 220, IO 230, CO 240, and SAI 310 are not shown in FIG. 4 inorder to simplify the drawing. The number of programs or channels sentin the multicast stream may, without limitation, range up to 800channels or more using present technology, with it being understood thatadvances in technology may allow many more channels to be sent. Themulticast protocol allows for efficient distribution of these signals toa large number of subscribers 250.

As the plurality of live television programs are distributed using themulticast IP protocol data stream 410, the CO live content mass storagesystem 406 can receive and record multiple video streams, eachassociated with one of the plurality of live television programs.Additionally, the SAI live content mass storage system 408 can alsoreceive and record each of the plurality of live television programs. Inan embodiment, the CO live content mass storage system 406 can be partof a server located at the CO 240 or can be an external storage devicein communication with the server. Similarly, the SAI live content massstorage system 408 can be part of a server located at the SAI 310 or canbe an external storage device in communication with the server. Each ofthe video streams associated with one of the plurality of livetelevision programs can be recorded in the live content mass storagesystems 406 and 408 until the completion of the related live televisionprogram, upon which the video stream can be replaced by a new videostream of a different live television program.

When the subscriber 250 turns on the CPE 320 and the display device 126,the subscriber may receive one of the plurality of live televisionprograms from the multicast IP protocol data stream 410. The livetelevision program may have already begun, however, and the subscriber250 may want to view a portion of the live television program that hasalready been transmitted to the subscriber by the VHO live televisionacquisition server 404. The subscriber 250 can then use the CPE 320 torequest the already transmitted portion of the live television programfrom either the CO live content mass storage system 406 or the SAI livecontent mass storage system 408 after the already transmitted portion ofthe live television program is required for display by the CPE 320. Uponreceiving a request for the already transmitted portion of the livetelevision program, the CO live content mass storage system 406 canprovide the previously transmitted content to the subscribers 250 usingone of a plurality of unicast streams 412, 414, and 416. Similarly, theSAI live content mass storage system 408 can provide the previouslytransmitted content to the subscribers 250 using one of a plurality ofunicast streams 418, 420, and 422.

The subscriber 250 can utilize the CPE 320 to initiate a unicastconnection to a content library file on the CO live content mass storagesystem 406 or the SAI live content mass storage system 408. Upon the CPE320 completing the unicast connection, the subscriber 250 can request toadvance the video stream forwards and backwards to view a desiredportion of the recorded content associated with the previouslytransmitted live television program. In an embodiment, the CPE 320 canalso download the entire portion of the live television program recordedon the CO live content mass storage device 406 using one of theplurality of unicast streams 412, 414, and 416. Likewise, if the livetelevision program content is recorded on the SAI live content massstorage system 408, the CPE 320 can download the entire portion of thelive television program recorded on the SAI live content mass storagesystem using one of the plurality of unicast streams 418, 420, and 422.

While the subscriber 250 is accessing the portion of the live televisioncontent recorded on the live content mass storage systems 406 and 408,the VHO live television acquisition server 404 can continue to transmitthe live television program to the CPE 320 using the multicast IPprotocol data stream 410. The CPE 320 can record the current portion ofthe live television program, received from the VHO live televisionacquisition server 404, in a storage device of the CPE (not shown) forlater access by the subscriber 250. Thus, the subscriber 250 can accessa previously transmitted portion of a live television program content,can record the currently transmitted live television program content inthe CPE 320 while accessing the previously transmitted portion, and canview the portion of the live television program content recorded in theCPE after viewing the previously transmitted portion.

The live content mass storage systems 406 and 408 can record theplurality of multicast video streams received from the VHO livetelevision acquisition server 404 and can send a previously transmittedportion to the subscriber 250 as a unicast video stream. FIG. 5 shows aflow diagram of a method 500 for providing a unicast video streamassociated with a previously transmitted portion of a multicast videostream. At block 502, a plurality of multicast video streams is receivedfrom the VHO live television acquisition server. Each of plurality ofmulticast video streams are associated with different live televisionprogram content. Each of the plurality of multicast video streams arestored at block 504. A block 506, a determination is made whether arequest for a previously transmitted portion of one of the plurality ofmulticast video streams is received. If the request is not received, theflow diagram continues as stated above at block 502. If the request isreceived, the previously transmitted portion is sent at block 508. Thepreviously transmitted portion can be sent to a subscriber as a unicastvideo stream.

At block 510, a determination is made whether an advance backwardsrequest for the previously transmitted portion is received. If theadvance backwards request is received, the previously transmittedportion is advanced backwards to a specific point in an associated videostream at block 512. At block 514, the transmission of the previouslytransmitted portion is continued from the specific point in the videostream. At block 516, if an advance backwards request is not received, adetermination is made whether an advance forwards request is receivedfor the previously transmitted portion. If the advance forwards requestis not received, the flow diagram continues as stated above at block508. If the advance forwards request is received, the previouslytransmitted portion is advanced forwards to a specific point in anassociated video stream at block 518. At block 520, the transmission ofthe previously transmitted portion is continued from the specific pointin the video stream.

The CPE 320 and the set-top box devices 116 and 124 can request aunicast video stream associated with a previously transmitted portion oflive television program content from the live content mass storagesystems 406 and 408. FIG. 6 shows a flow diagram of a method 600 forreceiving the unicast video stream while storing a current portion ofthe multicast video stream. At block 602, a multicast video streamassociated with live television program content is requested. Themulticast video stream is received at block 604. At block 606, apreviously transmitted portion of the multicast video stream is requiredfor immediate output to a display. At block 608, the previouslytransmitted portion of the multicast video stream is requested. Thepreviously transmitted portion is received as a unicast video stream atblock 610. At block 612, the multicast video stream is stored incustomer premises equipment while receiving the previously transmittedportion.

At block 614, a determination is made whether an advance backwardsrequest for the previously transmitted portion is received. If theadvance backwards request is received, the previously transmittedportion is output from a specific point in the video stream to thedisplay at block 616. At block 618, if an advance backwards request isnot received, a determination is made whether an advance forwardsrequest is received for the previously transmitted portion. If theadvance forwards request is not received, the flow diagram continues asstated above at block 602. If the advance forwards request is received,the previously transmitted portion is output from the specific point inthe video stream to the display at block 620.

FIG. 7 shows an illustrative embodiment of a general computer system 700in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.The computer system 700 can include a set of instructions that can beexecuted to cause the computer system to perform any one or more of themethods or computer based functions disclosed herein. The computersystem 700 may operate as a standalone device or may be connected, e.g.,using a network, to other computer systems or peripheral devices.

In a networked deployment, the computer system may operate in thecapacity of a server or as a client user computer in a server-clientuser network environment, or as a peer computer system in a peer-to-peer(or distributed) network environment. The computer system 700 can alsobe implemented as or incorporated into various devices, such as apersonal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box (STB), a personaldigital assistant (PDA), a mobile device, a palmtop computer, a laptopcomputer, a desktop computer, a communications device, a wirelesstelephone, a land-line telephone, a control system, a camera, a scanner,a facsimile machine, a printer, a pager, a personal trusted device, aweb appliance, a network router, switch or bridge, or any other machinecapable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise)that specify actions to be taken by that machine. In a particularembodiment, the computer system 700 can be implemented using electronicdevices that provide voice, video or data communication. Further, whilea single computer system 700 is illustrated, the term “system” shallalso be taken to include any collection of systems or sub-systems thatindividually or jointly execute a set, or multiple sets, of instructionsto perform one or more computer functions.

The computer system 700 may include a processor 702, e.g., a centralprocessing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), or both.Moreover, the computer system 700 can include a main memory 704 and astatic memory 706 that can communicate with each other via a bus 708. Asshown, the computer system 700 may further include a video display unit710, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light emittingdiode (OLED), a flat panel display, a solid state display, or a cathoderay tube (CRT). Additionally, the computer system 700 may include aninput device 712, such as a keyboard, and a cursor control device 714,such as a mouse. The computer system 700 can also include a disk driveunit 716, a signal generation device 718, such as a speaker or remotecontrol, and a network interface device 720.

In a particular embodiment, as depicted in FIG. 7, the disk drive unit716 may include a computer-readable medium 722 in which one or more setsof instructions 724, e.g. software, can be embedded. Further, theinstructions 724 may embody one or more of the methods or logic asdescribed herein. In a particular embodiment, the instructions 724 mayreside completely, or at least partially, within the main memory 704,the static memory 706, and/or within the processor 702 during executionby the computer system 700. The main memory 704 and the processor 702also may include computer-readable media. The network interface device720 can provide connectivity to a network 726, e.g., a wide area network(WAN), a local area network (LAN), or other network.

In an alternative embodiment, dedicated hardware implementations such asapplication specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays andother hardware devices can be constructed to implement one or more ofthe methods described herein. Applications that may include theapparatus and systems of various embodiments can broadly include avariety of electronic and computer systems. One or more embodimentsdescribed herein may implement functions using two or more specificinterconnected hardware modules or devices with related control and datasignals that can be communicated between and through the modules, or asportions of an application-specific integrated circuit. Accordingly, thepresent system encompasses software, firmware, and hardwareimplementations.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, themethods described herein may be implemented by software programsexecutable by a computer system. Further, in an exemplary, non-limitedembodiment, implementations can include distributed processing,component/object distributed processing, and parallel processing.Alternatively, virtual computer system processing can be constructed toimplement one or more of the methods or functionality as describedherein.

The present disclosure contemplates a computer-readable medium thatincludes instructions 724 or receives and executes instructions 724responsive to a propagated signal, so that a device connected to anetwork 726 can communicate voice, video or data over the network 726.Further, the instructions 724 may be transmitted or received over thenetwork 726 via the network interface device 720.

While the computer-readable medium is shown to be a single medium, theterm “computer-readable medium” includes a single medium or multiplemedia, such as a centralized or distributed database, and/or associatedcaches and servers that store one or more sets of instructions. The term“computer-readable medium” shall also include any medium that is capableof storing, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution bya processor or that cause a computer system to perform any one or moreof the methods or operations disclosed herein.

In a particular non-limiting, exemplary embodiment, thecomputer-readable medium can include a solid-state memory such as amemory card or other package that houses one or more non-volatileread-only memories. Further, the computer-readable medium can be arandom access memory or other volatile re-writable memory. Additionally,the computer-readable medium can include a magneto-optical or opticalmedium, such as a disk or tapes or other storage device to capturecarrier wave signals such as a signal communicated over a transmissionmedium. A digital file attachment to an e-mail or other self-containedinformation archive or set of archives may be considered a distributionmedium that is equivalent to a tangible storage medium. Accordingly, thedisclosure is considered to include any one or more of acomputer-readable medium or a distribution medium and other equivalentsand successor media, in which data or instructions may be stored.

The illustrations of the embodiments described herein are intended toprovide a general understanding of the structure of the variousembodiments. The illustrations are not intended to serve as a completedescription of all of the elements and features of apparatus and systemsthat utilize the structures or methods described herein. Many otherembodiments may be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewingthe disclosure. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived from thedisclosure, such that structural and logical substitutions and changesmay be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure.Additionally, the illustrations are merely representational and may notbe drawn to scale. Certain proportions within the illustrations may beexaggerated, while other proportions may be minimized. Accordingly, thedisclosure and the FIGs. are to be regarded as illustrative rather thanrestrictive.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b) and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be usedto interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition,in the foregoing Detailed Description of the Drawings, various featuresmay be grouped together or described in a single embodiment for thepurpose of streamlining the disclosure. This disclosure is not to beinterpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodimentsrequire more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather,as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter may bedirected to less than all of the features of any of the disclosedembodiments. Thus, the following claims are incorporated into theDetailed Description of the Drawings, with each claim standing on itsown as defining separately claimed subject matter.

The above disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, andnot restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all suchmodifications, enhancements, and other embodiments which fall within thetrue spirit and scope of the present disclosed subject matter. Thus, tothe maximum extent allowed by law, the scope of the present disclosedsubject matter is to be determined by the broadest permissibleinterpretation of the following claims and their equivalents, and shallnot be restricted or limited by the foregoing detailed description. TheAbstract of the Disclosure is provided with the understanding that itwill not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of theclaims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can beseen that various features are grouped together in a single embodimentfor the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method ofdisclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that theclaimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited ineach claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subjectmatter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment.Thus the following claims are hereby incorporated into the DetailedDescription, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimedsubject matter.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system, comprising: a processing systemincluding a processor; and a memory that stores executable instructionsthat, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance ofoperations, comprising: storing a program of a plurality of multicastvideo streams in a local storage location of a network while the programis being broadcast from the network, wherein the local storage locationis associated with multiple premises comprising media processors, andwherein the local storage location deletes the program once a broadcastof the program has been completed; transmitting, to a media processor ofthe media processors, a multicast stream of the plurality of multicaststreams, wherein the multicast stream corresponds to a first scheduledvideo program content, wherein the first scheduled video program contentis associated with a first channel provided via the media processor; andtransmitting instructions to the local storage location to transmit arequested portion of a previously transmitted portion of the firstscheduled video program content as a unicast video stream to the mediaprocessor while continuing the transmitting of the multicast stream ofthe first scheduled video program content.
 2. The system of claim 1,wherein the operations further comprise: receiving an advance backwardsrequest for the previously transmitted portion; advancing the previouslytransmitted portion backwards to a specific point in a video stream ofthe previously transmitted portion based on the advance backwardsrequest; and continuing transmission of the previously transmittedportion as the unicast video stream from the specific point in the videostream of the previously transmitted portion.
 3. The system of claim 1,wherein the operations further comprise: receiving an advance forwardsrequest for the previously transmitted portion; advancing the previouslytransmitted portion forward to a specific point in a video stream of thepreviously transmitted portion based on the advance forwards request;and continuing transmission of the previously transmitted portion as theunicast video stream from the specific point in the video stream of thepreviously transmitted portion.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein themedia processor automatically accesses recorded content to output thefirst scheduled video program content responsive to detecting a secondchannel change back to the first channel.
 5. The system of claim 4,wherein the transmitting the instructions to the local storage locationto transmit the requested portion of the previously transmitted portionas the unicast video stream to the media processor occurs while themedia processor continues to record the first scheduled video programcontent.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmitting theinstructions to the local storage location is responsive to receiving arequest for the previously transmitted portion of the first scheduledvideo program content.
 7. A machine-readable storage medium, comprisingexecutable instructions that, when executed by a processing systemincluding a processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:outputting buffered television program content from a selected channelof a multicast video stream received from a network to output scheduledvideo content to a display; determining whether a media processor has arequested portion among the buffered television program contentresponsive to receiving a request to display a requested portion of thescheduled video content; requesting a previously transmitted portion ofthe selected channel corresponding to the requested portion of thescheduled video content from an area storage location; and receiving anentire portion of the previously transmitted portion corresponding tothe requested portion as a unicast video stream from the area storagelocation while receiving the multicast video stream upon requesting thepreviously transmitted portion for presentation from the area storagelocation.
 8. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein thearea storage location is proximate to customer premises equipment andremote from the network, and wherein the area storage location providesservices to multiple premises having media processors of the network. 9.The machine-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the operationsfurther comprise: receiving an advance backwards request for thepreviously transmitted portion; and outputting the previouslytransmitted portion from a specific point in a video stream of thepreviously transmitted portion based on the advance backwards request toa display.
 10. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 8 whereinthe operations further comprise: receiving an advance forwards requestfor the previously transmitted portion; and outputting the previouslytransmitted portion from a specific point in a video stream of thepreviously transmitted portion based on the advance forwards request toa display.
 11. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 7, whereinthe media processor comprises a mobile communications device.
 12. Themachine-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the area storagelocation deletes a scheduled video program of the scheduled videoprograms of the multicast video stream once a broadcast of the scheduledvideo program has been completed.
 13. The machine-readable storagemedium of claim 7, wherein the area storage location comprises a servingarea interface of the network that stores scheduled video programs ofthe multicast video stream of the network while each of the scheduledvideo programs of the multicast video stream is being broadcast.
 14. Amethod, comprising: transmitting, by a processing system comprising aprocessor, instructions to a storage location to store each of aplurality of multicast video streams while live buffered scheduled videocontent is being broadcast; transmitting, by the processing system,instructions to the storage location to delete a live buffered scheduledvideo content of one of the plurality of multicast video streams once abroadcast of the live buffered scheduled video content has beencompleted; providing, by the processing system, the live bufferedscheduled video content to customer premises equipment associated withthe storage location, as recorded content; and transmitting, by theprocessing system, instructions to the storage location to transmit anentire portion of the live buffered scheduled video contentcorresponding to and including a previously transmitted portion of thelive buffered scheduled video content as a unicast video stream to thecustomer premises equipment for presentation while the processing systemcontinues transmitting a multicast video stream corresponding to thelive buffered scheduled video content of the one of the plurality ofmulticast video streams.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein thecustomer premises equipment receives an advance backwards request forthe previously transmitted portion, and wherein the customer premisesequipment advances the previously transmitted portion backwards to aspecific point in a video stream of the previously transmitted portionresponsive to the advance backwards request.
 16. The method of claim 14,wherein the customer premises equipment receives an advance forwardsrequest for the previously transmitted portion, and wherein the customerpremises equipment advances the previously transmitted portion forwardto a specific point in a video stream of the previously transmittedportion responsive to the advance forwards request.
 17. The method ofclaim 14, wherein the storage location is proximate to the customerpremises equipment for a geographic area of subscribers for aninteractive television system and remote from a video head end serverthat provides services to the subscribers for the interactive televisionsystem.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the customer premisesequipment records the live buffered scheduled video content.
 19. Themethod of claim 18, wherein the unicast video stream is received fromthe storage location while the customer premises equipment continues torecord the live buffered scheduled video content.
 20. The method ofclaim 14, further comprising receiving the previously transmittedportion from the unicast video stream while recording the firstscheduled video program content.